Blair to put block plan to share secrets

Tony Blair is set to quash EU plans which would force Britain to share its spy secrets with the rest of Europe.

Moves have been launched to create an Anti-Terrorism czar with powers to see secret intelligence and coordinate action in the wake of the Madrid bombings.

The emergency plan will be discussed in talks on Friday and follows fears that the tragedy which killed 201 people could have been prevented if every EU state had pooled its intelligence on al Qaeda.

But some countries are pressing to go further and set up a European version of America's spy service, the CIA. British officials are against the plan because they fear it could deter some sources from coming forward with sensitive information.

In addition, MI6 has sharing arrangements with the CIA and other foreign agencies which depend on each agency keeping each other's secrets away from rival powers